The Belles' Toll; On The FA's 'Relegation' of the Doncaster Belles
popularstand.wordpress.com“Doncaster Belles won’t be in the top division next year. Not because of relegation, not because of liquidation, not even due to rebranding. They will not be in the top division next season simply because the FA has decided they will not be. In 2014 the FA have elected to further build upon the Women’s Super League with the introduction of a second tier FAWSL2. All current Super League teams have retained their seat at the top table for the new FAWSL1 except one, Doncaster Rovers Belles, who will be replaced by Manchester City.
The FA announced this decision via a news story on the FAWSL website on Friday 26th April. No fanfare, just a curt 120 word article which outlined the two divisional make-ups. There was no reasoning given (indeed a fortnight on there still has been none) just a token disclaimer “The FA will make no further comment until this process is complete.” Twenty two years of top-flight football ended via a press release that could have been written on a postcard.”
Brilliant article on the website of the Doncaster Rovers fanzine “The Popular Stand” on the appalling treatment of the Doncaster Belles by the FA.
